Opposition Bloc INDIA gears up for crucial meeting in Delhi amidst chaos over the Parliament security breach

Opposition Bloc INDIA is all set to convene its fourth collective meeting on Tuesday, to debate and deliberate upon key issues such as seat sharing, formulating a joint plan of action, and to fine tune other nuances of the alliance ahead of the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha election. This is the first INDIA meeting after rumors of chinks in the armor surfaced over Congress’s “big brotherly” attitude in the alliance that had irked its members following the grand old party’s defeat in the three states of the Hindi heartland to BJP in the recently conducted assembly polls.

Interestingly, a day before the mega-alliance meet, a total of 78 MPs were suspended from both houses of the Parliament for their vehement protests holding placards in the house over the security scare. The fresh round of suspension came days after 14 PMs were suspended from the Parliament, taking the suspension tally to a staggering 92 Opposition members, who were demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Parliament security breach that rattled the Lok Sabha on December13, the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliamentary terror attacks.

The Opposition took a jibe at the BJP government and stated that with the mass suspension, the Union Government had reached the “apex of dictatorship.” Taking to social media platform “X”, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have spoken to the media on the breach, but have not issued a statement in either of the houses. "The Prime Minister speaks to a leading newspaper on the very serious December 13th security breach in the Lok Sabha. The Home Minister speaks to a TV channel on the security breach. Parliament is in session. INDIA parties are demanding a statement from the Home Minister in both Houses on the shocking incidents. It is a simple, straightforward, and legitimate demand. But Home Minister refuses to make a statement which is his duty and responsibility," posted Jairam Ramesh.

Bonded under the banner of “Main Nahin, Hum” the Opposition Bloc are working towards a common plan of action to take the BJP head on at the 2024 general elections. Additional pressure has mounted on the INDIA bloc owing to BJP’s resounding victories in the three Hindi heartland states in the recently conducted assembly polls. As per reports, the INDIA Bloc is expected to hold discussions on seat sharing, appointment of a convener, a spokesperson and a common secretariat. Moreover, they would work towards adopting measures that will project the image of a united Opposition before the masses.

Several leaders of the Opposition bloc have already reached New Delhi ahead of the mega-alliance meet. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday, before meeting with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut. Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee stated that the INDIA alliance is actively working towards defeating the BJP. Ahead of the fourth chapter of the alliance meet. "The BJP is not strong, we are weak. We need to work together to overcome it," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Earlier today, at the BJP part meet in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at the Bloc INDIA, and stated that the Opposition alliance has united over their resolve to remove the current government, while the BJP is working towards a better future of the country.

The first meeting of the INDIA Alliance was held in Patna, the second chapter convened in Bengaluru, closely followed by the third meeting in Mumbai, and the fourth chapter will unfold in Delhi.